Heating apparatus with sliding mechanism

ABSTRACT

A heating apparatus ( 20 ) comprises a box ( 22 ), a door ( 23 ) and sliding mechanism ( 21 ). The door is slidably mounted on the box. The sliding mechanism includes a static member ( 25 ), a sliding member ( 24 ) and at least a resilient member ( 26 ). The sliding member is slidably mounted on the static member. The static member is mounted on the box, and the sliding member is mounted on the door. One end of the resilient member is fixed to the sliding member, and another end of the resilient member is fixed to the static member. When the door is sliding on the box, the resilient member drives the door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heating apparatuses, and, particularly,to a heating apparatus with a sliding mechanism for opening a door ofthe heating apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Heating apparatuses such as ovens, disinfecting cupboards or dryingmachines are widely used. Generally, such a heating apparatus has a doorrotatably mounted thereon via a rotatable axis. The heating apparatus isopened by the rotation of the axis. However, this approach of openingthe heating apparatus requires a large space, thus it is difficult toopen the heating apparatus in a narrow circumstance. Additionally, whenthe heating apparatus is in function, an inner surface of the door isalso heated. The rotating door having a hot inner surface may return andburn the user when the user open the door and reach for the items insidethe heating apparatus.

Therefore, a new heating apparatus is desired in order to overcome theabove-described shortcomings.

SUMMARY

A heating apparatus comprises a box; a door and sliding mechanism. Thedoor is slidably mounted on the box. The sliding mechanism includes astatic member, a sliding member and at least one resilient member. Thesliding member is slidably mounted on the static member. The staticmember is mounted on the box, and the sliding member is mounted on thedoor. One end of the resilient member is fixed to the sliding member,and another end of the resilient member is fixed to the static member.When the door is sliding on the box, the resilient member drives thedoor.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present heating apparatus can be better understoodwith reference to the following drawings. The components in the variousdrawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead beingplaced upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present heatingapparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a closed, schematic view of a heating apparatus in accordancewith a present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an opened, schematic view of the heating apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the heating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but shown in a second visual angle;

FIG. 5 is a closed, schematic view of the sliding cover mechanism of theheating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sliding, schematic view of the sliding cover mechanism ofthe heating apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an opened, schematic view of the sliding cover mechanism ofthe heating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a heating apparatus 20 inaccordance with a present embodiment is provided. The heating apparatus20 is an oven including a sliding mechanism 21, a box 22 and a door 23.The sliding mechanism 21 connects the door 23 to the box 22, thus thedoor 23 is slidably installed on the box 22.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the sliding mechanism 21 includes asliding member 24, a static member 25 and two resilient members 26. Thesliding member 24 is slidably mounted on the static member 25. Theresilient members 26 are mounted between the sliding member 24 and thestatic member 25. Each resilient member 26 has a first end 261 fixed tothe sliding member 24 and a second end 262 fixed to the static member25.

The sliding member 24 is an approximately rectangular board and definesa rectangular through hole 245 in its central portion. Two oppositesides of the sliding member 24 bend against each other to be L-shaped,thus form two sliding rails 243, and a containing portion 247 iscorrespondingly formed between the two sliding rails 243. Other twosides of the sliding member 24 bend against the sliding rails 243 toform two leading rails 244. Two first mounting protrusions 246 arerespectively formed on the containing portion 247 adjacent to a slidingrail 243. The sliding member 24 also defines a plurality of firstretaining holes 248 adjacent to the leading rails 244 therein.

The static member 25 is an approximately rectangular board. A gap 251 isdefined in each corner of the static member 25. The static member 25includes a second top surface 252, a second bottom surface 253 oppositeto the second top surface 252, two short sides 254 and two long sides255. The two short sides 254 bend towards each other to be U-shaped,thus form two sliding grooves 256 corresponding to the two sliding rails243. Additionally, a filling (not labeled) made of a small frictionalcoefficient material such as plastic can be filled into the slidinggrooves 256 for decreasing a friction between the static member 25 andthe sliding member 24. Two second mounting protrusions 257 arerespectively formed on the middle portion adjacent to a long side 255 ofthe second top surface 252. The static member 25 also defines aplurality of second retaining holes 258 therein.

The resilient members 26 are return springs. Each resilient member 26includes a first fixing hook 261 and a second fixing hook 262respectively formed on two ends thereof.

The box 22 is approximately cuboid shaped and includes an opening wall221, a top wall 222, a bottom wall 223 and a sidewall 224. The top wall222 is perpendicular to the opening wall 221 and the sidewall 224. Thebottom wall 223 is parallel to the top wall 222. The sidewall 224connects the top wall 222 to the bottom wall 223. The box 22 defines afirst mounting recess 2211 corresponding to the static member 25 in theopening wall 221 adjacent to the top wall 222, and also defines aplurality of thread holes 2212 corresponding to second retaining holes258 and communicating with the first mounting recess 2211. A controlpanel 2213 is mounted on the opening wall 221 adjacent to the sidewall224. A plurality of controlling buttons 2214 are mounted on the controlpanel 2213.

The door 23 is an approximately rectangular board and includes an outersurface 231 and an inner surface 232. An opening block 233 is formed onthe outer surface 231 for pushing the door 23 to slide. The door 23defines a second mounting recess 234 corresponding to the sliding member24 therein. Four retaining portions 235 corresponding to the gaps 251 ofthe static member 25 are formed on the inner surface 232, and eachretaining portions 235 extends to a corner of the second mounting recess234. The door 23 defines a plurality of thread holes 236 correspondingto first retaining holes 248, and each thread hole 236 communicates withthe second mounting recess 234. The door 23 also defines two leadinggrooves 237 corresponding to the leading rails 244 of the sliding member24. The leading grooves 237 open on the inner surface 232. An observingwindow 238 is installed in a central portion of the door 23.

In assembly, the static member 25 engages with the first mounting recess2211 of the box 21, and a plurality of bolts (not shown) are screwedinto the second retaining holes 258 and the thread holes 2212, thus thestatic member 25 is mounted on the box 21. The second fixing hooks 262of the resilient members 26 respectively hook the second mountingprotrusions 257 of the static member 25. The sliding rails 243 of thesliding member 24 engage with the sliding grooves 256 of the staticmember 25, and the static member 25 is positioned in a middle portion ofthe sliding member 24. The resilient members 26 are then contained inthe containing portion 247, and the first fixing hooks 261 of theresilient members 26 respectively hook the first mounting protrusions246 of the sliding member 24. In this way, the resilient members 26 aremounted in their initial states between the static portion 25 and themiddle portion of the sliding member 24. When the sliding member 24slides towards either one of the directions along the sliding grooves256, the resilient members 26 bring elasticity towards the slidingdirection of the sliding member 24.

The door 23 is mounted to the sliding member 24. The leading rails 244of the sliding member 24 respectively engage with the leading grooves237 of the door 23, thus the sliding member 24 engages with the secondmounting recess 234. A plurality of retainers (not shown), such asbolts, are inserted into the exposed first retaining holes 248 to retainthe door 23.

Referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, when the heating apparatus 20 is closed,the resilient members 26 are bent and press the sliding member 24 to thebottom wall 223 until the static member 25 blocks two retaining portions235. In this way, the heating apparatus 20 is closed and the door 23 isretained to cover the opening wall 221.

When the heating apparatus 20 is opened, the opening block 233 is pushedtowards the top wall 222. When the sliding member 24 slides across themiddle portion of the static member 25, the resilient members 26 drivethe sliding member 24 and the door 23 to the top wall 222 until thestatic member 25 blocks two retaining portions 235. In this way, theheating apparatus 20 is opened and the door 23 slides parallel to theopening wall 221 to be retained in a side of the opening wall 221. Whenthe opened heating apparatus 20 requires to be closed, the opening block233 is pushed towards the bottom wall 223. When the sliding member 24slides across the middle portion of the static member 25, the resilientmembers 26 drive the sliding member 24 and the door 23 to the bottomwall 223 until the static member 25 blocks two retaining portions 235.In this way, the heating apparatus 20 is closed and the door 23 slidesparallel to the opening wall 221 and is retained to cover the openingwall 221.

Understandably, in the present heating apparatus 20, the typical axisfor connecting the door 23 to the box 22 is replaced by the slidingmechanism 21. In this way, the heating apparatus 20 requires less spacethan typical heating apparatuses when it is opened. Additionally, thedoor 23 connected by the sliding mechanism 21 can prevent the users frombeing burned by its hot inner surface.

It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristicsand advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in theforegoing description, together with details of structures and functionsof various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changesmay be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, andarrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A heating apparatus, comprising: a box; a door slidably mounted onthe box; and a sliding mechanism, the sliding mechanism including astatic member, a sliding member slidably mounted on the static memberand at least a resilient member; the static member being mounted on thebox, the sliding member being mounted on the door; one end of theresilient member being fixed to the sliding member, another end of theresilient member being fixed to the static member; wherein the resilientmember drives the door, when the door slides on the box.
 2. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the static member is arectangular board defining two sliding grooves therein and the slidingmember is a rectangular board forming two sliding rails in its twoopposite ends, the two sliding rails respectively engaging with the twosliding grooves.
 3. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe box defines a first mounting recess corresponding to the staticmember, and the static member is received in the first mounting recess.4. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the door definesa second mounting recess corresponding to the sliding member, and thesliding member is received in the second mounting recess.
 5. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plurality of retainingportions are formed on a surface of the door, each retaining portionextending to a corner of the second mounting recess.
 6. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the static member defines aplurality of gaps corresponding to the retaining portions therein. 7.The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one firstmounting protrusion is formed on the sliding member, at least one secondmounting protrusion being formed on the static member, and two ends ofthe resilient member being respectively mounted on the at least onefirst mounting protrusion and the at least one second mountingprotrusion.
 8. A heating apparatus, comprising: a box including anopening wall, a top wall perpendicular to the opening wall and a bottomwall parallel to the top wall; a door mounted on the box and slidingparallel to the opening wall; and a sliding mechanism connecting thedoor to the box and including at least one resilient member; wherein theresilient member drives the door when the door slides on the box.
 9. Theheating apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sliding mechanismincludes a static member and a sliding member slidably mounted on thestatic member.
 10. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe static member is mounted on the box, and the sliding member ismounted on the door.
 11. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 9,wherein one end of the resilient member is mounted on the slidingmember, and another end of the resilient member is mounted on the staticmember;
 12. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein thestatic member is a rectangular board defining two sliding groovestherein and the sliding member is a rectangular board forming twosliding rails in its two opposite ends, the two sliding railsrespectively engaging with the two sliding grooves.
 13. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the box defines a firstmounting recess corresponding to the static member, and the staticmember is received in the first mounting recess.
 14. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the door defines a secondmounting recess corresponding to the sliding member, and the slidingmember is received in the second mounting recess.
 15. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein a plurality of retainingportions are formed on a surface of the door, each retaining portionextending to a corner of the second mounting recess.
 16. The heatingapparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the static member defines aplurality of gaps corresponding to the retaining portions therein. 17.The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one firstmounting protrusion is formed on sliding member and at least one secondmounting protrusion is formed on the static member, two ends of theresilient member being respectively mounted on the at least one firstmounting protrusion and the at least one second mounting protrusion.